I don’t want my Bhoys to have careers wrecked like John
Rodgers tells refs to clamp down on hatchetmen after shocking tackles on his stars
Brendan Rodgers has pleaded with officials to give his players more protection – as he fears they could suffer a career-ending injury like coach John Kennedy.
The Celtic boss voiced his concerns after Kieran Tierney was on the end of a shocking challenge from Motherwell’s Ryan Bowman last weekend.
That clash followed a horror tackle from Iain Vigurs on Scott Sinclair in the Inverness game the previous week.
Bowman and Vigurs both escaped red cards and Rodgers insisted referees need to clamp down on the
dangerous fouls before players suffer serious injury.
The Hoops gaffer pointed to Parkhead coach Kennedy who saw his career wrecked by a brutal lunge from Romania’s Ionel Ganea on Scotland duty.
Rodgers – who was also forced to retire in his twenties due to injury – said: “My only worry at this moment is the protection I want for my players.
“I didn’t see the tackle on Kieran until after the game but when I did see it, it was a horrendous challenge.
“We had one the week before on Scott that was a horrendous challenge.
“I have a team of men. They are young players but I ask them to be men in the game and we have shown over the course of the season we can handle a tough, aggressive, tight game of football. We can take that.
“But I need the officials to control it if something is a bad tackle, they have to see it.
“I have a brilliant young coach on my books, John Kennedy, who lost his career on the back of an absolutely disgraceful challenge and I don’t want that.
“That could have happened to Kieran last week if his foot was planted – easily.
“It is the responsibility of officials to protect players – that is their duty on the field. Not just the referee – all four of them – and how that was never seen, you know.
“The same with Scott the other week. They are awful challenges. That is my only worry at the minute. I worry for the players.
“We play an aggressive game and we have lots of matches like that which are great – away at Aberdeen, tough games where you fight and tackle and are aggressive.
“But when it goes over the top we need the help of referees otherwise you are going to lose talented players and you may lose careers because of it.”
Rodgers admitted his side may be getting targeted for rough treatment because they are so far out in front in Scotland. But he insisted it was no excuse for putting players in harm’s way.
He said: “I don’t know what it is. I know a player like Sinclair is quick and dynamic and that can affect timing.
“But a bad challenge is a bad challenge. I don’t care who it is. We respect how opponents prepare for games. My duty is to make sure my team is prepared to fight and represent supporters.
“But there is also a duty from others to make sure the laws of the game and the welfare of players is looked after.
“I’m not saying to go soft. In Scotland and England we see two teams competing and fighting for the result. But we’ve seen some naughty challenges. I’m talking primarily about my players but if it’s happening elsewhere then it’s an issue.”
Rodgers insisted he doesn’t want players to dig up the officials on the pitch – but he does want them to take action.
He said: “I ask my players to respect referees. We are not a team that goes charging after officials, moaning and groaning.
“We say this is a man’s game. You expect to get hit with challenges, you take it, you get up and you fight.
“I’ve just seen a couple of things lately, whether it’s because we are on a run and are a target for teams, that means we need to be careful.”
Meanwhile, Celtic defender Efe Ambrose has been left in limbo at Blackburn.
The Nigerian is waiting to see if new boss Tony Mowbray will seek to complete his loan move – set in motion by the sacked Owen Coyle but yet to be sealed because of work permit problems.